There was a long pause and then finally her mother spoke.
“It doesn’t.” Her voice sounded strange, as if her throat had been rubbed by sandpaper.
Abby frowned. Was her mother ill? Something was wrong, she sensed it.
Everyone was looking at the woman at the head of the table. The finance director was sweating through his shirt.
“No? You mean no to a meeting next week? The developer felt—”
“His feelings are of no interest to me. And neither is his offer. I won’t sell to him.”
There was a stunned silence around the table.
“But his offer is—”
“I don’t care what he offers. We will not be selling.”
“You’re not even willing to hear what he has to say?” The finance director shuffled the papers in front of him. “I got the impression he might be prepared to go even higher. If you want, I could—”
“What I want is more information on the hotel.” Her voice was steady now. Sure and certain.
More information? Something fluttered inside her. Panic? Abby was sure she’d covered everything. What had she missed? What more information did her mother need?
She sat up a little straighter to get a better look, but she still couldn’t figure out which page her mother had been studying so closely.
“If there are some numbers or data you think—”
“I don’t need data. The report gives us a full picture of the current financial situation. What it doesn’t tell us is why. And before I make any final decisions on the future of our hotel in Cornwall, I want to understand why.” Alexandra closed the report in front of her. “The location is perfect, which is why people are scrambling to buy it from us. The building is sound. The staff are loyal, long-term employees. If it’s not working, then we need to identify why and make some changes.”
Miranda, head of people and development, scribbled a note to herself on the pad in front of her. “I can arrange individual interviews with key staff members. We can do it remotely.”
“I want it to be in person.”
There was an uncomfortable pause as everyone anticipated a sudden and unwelcome increase in their work volume.
“I should be able to clear my schedule and head over there in the next couple of weeks. I can ask a few questions. Dig a little deeper.” Jack, who was the UK manager, picked up his phone and checked his schedule.
Alexandra studied him for a moment, her lips pursed. “Did you visit after the general manager had his heart attack?”
“Visit? You mean in hospital?” Jack sat up straighter. “No—er—we sent flowers and a card, I believe.”
“I was asking when you last visited the hotel.”
“Ah. I’d have to check.” Jack ran his finger round the neck of his shirt. “As you know, most of my focus in recent months has been on The Alexandra, Loch Lomond. Since it opened a year ago the growth has been astonishing. It has becometheplace for weddings. We are fully booked for the next two years.”
Everyone knew that Jack’s interest in the hotel was driven by his ongoing affair with the wedding and events manager.
“You last visited Cornwall in November last year.” Alexandra’sgaze didn’t shift from his face. “So you’re not in a position to offer any insight into the present situation.”
Jack looked uncomfortable. “Well, I—”
“It wasn’t a question.”
“I’ll set up a visit.” Jack’s face was scarlet. “As a priority.”
“No,” Alexandra said. “Someone will go over and work with the team for the summer.”
“The summer?” Miranda gaped at her. “The whole summer?”
